Three locals reach the quarters of the West of Ireland

HOPES for the first local winner in 67 years of the West of Ireland Amateur Open remained very much alive yesterday afternoon with three locals in contention.

Gary McDermott, Barry Anderson and David Brady were all battling it out at the quarter- final stage of the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland.

Spectators were thronging the pristine course at the competition hotted up with locals supporting the trio. “To the best of my knowledge this is the first time we’ve had three locals reach the quarter- finals,” said David O’Donovan, General Manager of the Co Sligo Golf Club.

David and Barry both hail from Ballincar, while Gary is from a short distance up the road in Rosses Point. “To have all three of them get through to this stage is fantastic.

“The excitement is something else out there. David and Barry are playing each other, while Gary is up against Jake Whelan.

“That one was all square after seven, while David was one up after six so it is all to play for out there,” David added.

He said: “I suppose from our side to look out and see three Sligo lads on one half, we’re hoping depending on results that we will have a Sligo guy in the final.”

David said they couldn’t have asked for a better weekend weather- wise.

“To look around out there this afternoon and see the crowds and the unbelievable weather, the golf club has been the real winner too. We were blessed with the weather and the crowds really came out in support. It’s a big a crowd out there today than any final and the car keep arriving,” David acknowledged.